How to Avoid Manila Airport Taxi Scams (Plus Other Travel Tips)

If you've heard, seen, read about it, there are numerous scams perpetuated by unscrupulous taxi drivers victimizing people in Manila airport (Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)) from as simple as refusing to use the meter, charging exorbitant taxi fare, or even use of tampered taxi meters called batingting.

There are also three kinds of taxis in Manila airport: coupon taxis with fixed fare per destination, yellow airport taxis with fares almost double of regular taxis and the regular taxis that are usually the least trustworthy

Here are several ways to avoid Manila airport taxi scams:

1. Book Airport transfers to your hotel

Very easy but usually expensive, not for backpackers and budget travelers

2. Use your own car, a friend's car or hire one

Ask a friend/family to fetch you at the airport

Convenient but may be expensive and time consuming if your flight gets delayed

Drive yourself to the airport and use overnight parking in NAIA Terminal 1, NAIA Terminal 2, NAIA Terminal 3
or alternatively Park N Fly, so you'll have a ready transport from the airport.

3. Airport Transfers via NAIA Airport Loop (Formerly NAIA Shuttle Bus)

Served by two fleets, one by HM Transport with buses labeled HM Transport Airport Loop and the other using white buses emblazoned with Airport loop, the shuttle buses can transfer you to all
NAIA terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4 and also to Pasay/Taft/Rotonda if you want to take the bus or MRT and LRT-- the cheap way!


4. UBE Express Premium Bus

This premium bus service serves several fixed routes to Manila via Roxas Boulevard, Makati, Pasay/Rotonda/MRT/LRT, Pasay/Buendia/LRT and Entertainment City. Regular fare is PhP300 but offering promo of PhP150.00. This is a very good alternative if you want to avoid long taxi queues at the airport as you can book your trip in advance

This is also the same bus that can take you to Victory Liner bus terminal on EDSA, Five Star bus terminal in Pasay, and several Bus terminals in Pasay/Taft/LRT Buendia going to your destination.

5. Resorts World Manila Free Shuttle Service

If you hold a valid Resorts World membership card, you can hop in to their free shuttle of Resorts World at NAIA Terminal 3. It's easier to get an ordinary cab from there.

6. Citylink Bus to NAIA Terminal 3 to Eastwood City, Quezon City via C-5

Citylink bus serves the Newport City to Eastwood City route via C-5 to connect the two Megaworld projects. The bus passes by NAIA Terminal 3. Not available on Weekends though.

7. City buses from NAIA Terminals 1, 2, and 3

Ordinary (non-air-conditioned) and air-conditioned buses pass by the three terminals that can take you to various destinations in Metro Manila

8. Jeepneys in NAIA Terminal 3

These jeepneys ply the SM Mall of Asia or Baclaran -Nichols route. You can ride them near NAIA Terminal 3 if going to Nichols/Fort Bonifacion Gate 3 or across if you're going to Baclaran/Pasay/Taft/Rotonda/MRT/LRT area

9. Coupon Taxis

these are white-colored taxis with big luggage compartments. They charge fixed fee per destination and more expensive than ordinary taxis

10. Yellow Cab: the Yellow Airport Taxis

Colored taxis are dedication taxis for the airport with fares almost double the fare of ordinary taxis. Flag down rate is PhP70.00

Last Notes:

If you still took a taxi and got scammed:

Text NAIA : +63.917.839.6242
or call Customer Relations Center (CRC) +63.2.823.0669
Facebook and Twitter: naiamiaa

For complaints, you may contact the MIAA Hotline at +63.2.877.1111

Be safe!